community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Port Republic, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in summer (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.0 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Port Republic?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking late Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Port Republic, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 54 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 106 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Port Republic
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.14 mi SE.
How Port Republic ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 75th | 79th | 38th |
| Virginia | 92nd | 35th | 96th | 59th |
| Ridge and Valley | 89th | 48th | 92nd | 35th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 45% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Port Republic: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Grottoes 1 mi · Harriston 5 mi · Weyers Cave 5 mi · McGaheysville 8 mi · New Hope 8 mi · Massanetta Springs 8 mi
All towns in Virginia · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Port Republic (38.2831, -78.8132); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.